This Wednesday October 24th, RCFC will host Rebecca “Becky” Mitchell, head of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) since 2017. As director of the CWCB, Becky leads the state’s water policy and planning efforts and is leading the implementation effort of Colorado’s Water Plan.
Prior to her appointment as Director, Becky served as the Section Chief for CWCB’s Water Supply Planning section. This section includes the Office of Water Conservation & Drought Planning, and focuses on ensuring sufficient water supplies for Colorado’s citizens and the environment. Her duties as Section Chief led to working with the state’s Basin Roundtables, the Interbasin Compact Committee, the public at large, and CWCB staff in producing Colorado’s Water Plan. The Water Plan resulted from Gov. John HIckenlooper’s executive order in 2013 directing CWCB to facilitate its development.
Becky also served as the Water Policy and Issues Coordinator within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources’ Executive Director’s Office. Before joining DNR she worked in both the public and private sectors as a consulting engineer. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Colorado School of Mines. A native of Hawaii, Becky has lived in Colorado for the past 20 years with her five children.
Wednesday October 17 RCFC joined with Foothills and Breakfast Rotary Clubs to celebrate our annual Teacher(s) of the Year program. 
This year the three clubs honored Brenda Hernandez, a second grade teacher at Irish Elementary, nominated by the Fort Collins Foothills club; Gabby Wymore, who teaches history at Blevins Middle School; and Jennifer Martinez, who teaches music at Bacon Elementary School. 
To start our program, Ms. Martinez led the audience in singing "You Are My Sunshine"; very appropriate for teachers. .jpg)
Each teacher spoke eloquently about their 'calling' to teach, and Brenda Hernandez told a very moving story of a boy who entered Irish at the 3rd grade not reading anything at all. The joy, when the boy first associated the letters on paper with physical items, was very touching to us all. .jpg)
Poudre School District Superintendent and RCFC Member Dr. Sandra Smyser spoke on the importance of teachers, and how they make a difference in lives. 
Last week RCFC heard from Betsy Strafach, CEO and cofounder of 3Hopeful Hearts, a service for parents and others who have experienced the loss of a child. Three Northern Colorado women (two of whom had lost a child) came together in 2008 and formed this organization under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Wolfelt (Ft Collins resident and pioneer in grief management). Starting under the wing of PVH, they became their own nonprofit in 2012. They self-describe as grief companions, and work closely with counselors, first responders, UC Health and funeral services..jpg)
October 3, 2018 Committee Chair Kathy Nicol and Committee member Sally Lee presented a $2500 Community Grants check to Lutheran Family Services, to support their Parents Education and Support program, teaching safe and effective discipline methods, appropriate developmental expectations and healthy communications methods. 
October 3, Past District Governor Bill Emsley presented Past President Jeanne Fangman with RCFC's 2017-18 Presidential Citation award. Clubs receiving this citation must achieve specific goals related to Rotary’s three strategic priorities: to support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance Rotary’s public image and awareness. Congratulations RCFC and thanks Jeanne!!
This month RCFC honored Gina Spoden as Cadet of the Month. Gina was congratulated by Committee Chair Warren Wilson, and accompanied by her commanding Air Force ROTC officer. .jpg)
October 3, three new RCFC members were awarded their Blue Badge, having completed the various requirements. New Blue Badge members are Jean Lamm, Harry Mueller and Chuck Ulfers. Please congratulate all three new Blue Badge Members!
On October 3rd, Jim Wilkins re-enacted Gov Ralph Carr, saying he based his talk on the book “The Principled Politician”, by Adam Schrager. The talk went through his life as Governor, how he refused to give in to "Jap Fever" and the issue of the interment camps during WWII. While Governor Carr felt very strongly that it was not right to intern American citizens, he did agree to take Japanese Americans because he felt they would be better treated in Colorado than neighboring states. It was reported that neighboring states had threatened to kill any Japanese sent to their state. Wilkins concluded with how we as Coloradans should be proud of this past governor, who refused to give in to bigotry and lost his next election for Governor as a result. .jpg)
Wednesday September 19, RCFC hosted Fort Collins City Manager, Darin Atteberry to discuss the City's recent Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and what it means for residents. Atteberry started by taking about the change to focus on "budgeting for outcomes", using community safety as an example. While the data can show how safe city residents actually are, the necessary outcome must be "how safe do you feel"? 
Wednesday, September 12, Past President Jeanne Fangman inducted our newest member, Jill Maasch. Jill is a senior account manager for Mantooth Marketing Company, and is sponsored by Justie Nicol. Welcome Jill!.jpg)
September 12, Yolanda Schlabach, Executive Director of Zoë Ministries, Inc. and member of the Human Trafficking Coordinating Council for Delaware started by stating that Delaware's program to address human trafficking is based on the program developed in Larimer County. Larimer County's programs are focused on reducing 'demand' through sting operations and helping victims via non-profits such as Free Our Girls and First Responder Response Initiatives. Schlabach also showed and read several news articles, showing the results of sting operations in Northern Colorado. According to Schlabach, all prostitution is human trafficking. She also noted that human trafficking happens in other industries such as agricultural workers, where migrant workers are legally imported, then kept in virtual slavery, charged exhorbitant fees and kept from returning home. 
September 5, Past President Jeanne Fangman inducted RCFC newest member, Kathy Hawkins, sponsored by Kathy Nicol. Hawkins is a retired Controller for the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District. Welcome Kathy - Live long and serve well!
Wednesday September 5, STEM and Community Grants combined to give a $6000 grant to Pretty Brainy, and female-focused STEM organization. Accepting the check was CEO and Founder, Heidi Olinger, presented by STEM Chair Robin Steele.
The CSU Cadet of the Month for September, Colin Gahmnkos, was introduced by Captain Jon Parker, hosted by Warren Wilson. Gahmnkos spoke of his goals, and thanked RCFC. .jpg)
Last week John L Coleman, Jr., CEO of Boy Scouts of American, Long Peaks Council, spoke on the "Evolution of Scouting". The audience included many former Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and one Eagle Scout. Coleman was introduced by BSA LPC Development Director Dawn T-Baumgartner. There are currently 2.3 million scouts including over 10,000 in our region..jpg)
Wednesday August 29, RCFC celebrated an annual ritual with the Johnny Matsushim
a Centennial Flat Iron Steak Fry at the Farm at Lee Martinez Park. Steaks were obtained by John Matsushima, including a sampling of the famous Wagyu (Kobe-style) beef.
Wagyu (meaning "Japanese Cattle") steaks are prized worldwide for their astounding marbling, tenderness and juiciness. While the name "Kobe" is reserved exclusively for Wagyu cattle raised in region of Kobe, Japan - cattle raised in the US must be referred to as Wagyu or Kobe-Style..jpg)
Sid Fahsholtz, CPA, of Brock and Company, presented his analysis of the recently passed 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. His high-level summary was that, for both individuals and businesses, individual circumstances will determine whether they will be winners or losers. Summary of some of the significant changes:.jpg)
Nationwide, 65% of fourth graders are below proficient in reading. Colorado and Wyoming are only slightly better.
On August 15, Dave Boon, member of the Fort Collins Rotary After Work club and Past President of the Rocky Mountain Youth Leadership Board of Directors gave an interesting presentation on the History of RYLA/YRYLA and the current status, followed by short talks by two recent awardees. 
RYLA was started in Queensland, Australia in May 1960, and brought to the Rocky Mountain region in 1987. At a formation meeting in District Governor Charlie Peterson's house, apparently Susan Peterson, overhearing a conversation regarding who would attend said, "I think this is a fabulous idea to have a RYLA, Charlie, but you WILL allow girls!" RYLA and YRYLA have been coed since the start, and were so 1 year prior to Rotary inducting it's first woman. 
Rotary's annual Peach Festival is August 18 - don't miss out on the fun! Volunteers still needed, urgently! To sign up, go to 
President Steve Laine announced the establishment of two new scholarships, funded by Ada Chen. The scholarships, named in honor of Ada's late husband, Dr. Yung Hai Chen, will provide yearly $3000 scholarships to CSU and $2000 scholarships to Front Range Community College. Both scholarships are funded for 5 years by a generous gift of $30,000 from Ada. Ada told an emotional story of coming to the USA and CSU, the many blessings she has received since, and recounted how much Yung Hai loved Rotary. Ada received a standing ovation for her comments. Thanks for your leadership and caring, Ada. Editor's Note: In a previous version of this story, Dr. Yung Hai Chen's name was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
Bill Timpson introduced Lindsay Pointer, who has been studying Restorative Justice in New Zealand on a Rotary Peace Fellowship. 
